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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 3

Roger Williams to John Winthrop1
Williams, Roger Wintrhop, John

1637-07-11

For his much honoured Mr. Governour these
This 3rd 7ae July 11, 1637 Sir,

Yesterday by our neighbour Throckmorton I wrote concerning those Nayantaquit men your pinnace tooke. This bearer Jvanemo2 (one of the chiefe Sachims of that place and chiefe souldier) came last night with neere a score of his men to enquire after them. He was very desirous of a letter to you: I told him I hoped he would find his men at libertie. He hath brought a musket and a barrell of a leue piece which his men tooke from the Pequts.

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There was a speach that 3 of these men were Nayantakoogs and one a Pequat: it seemes he is a Pequt borne, but hath long since bene theirs, fallen to them, and done good service in their warrs against the Pequts.

Sir, this Jvanemo is a notable instrument amongst them etc. your wisedome, I know therefore, will lay hold of this his visit, to engage him the more to you.

Thus humbly begging mercies from the God of heaven for you and yours in all affaires, I rest, in hast Your Worships vnfaigned

Roger Williams

All due respects and salutacions, etc.

1.

Original not located; 4 Collections , VII. 202–203.

2.

Ninigret. Winthrop records in his Journal (1. 227; also printed in D.J.W. ) under the date of July 11, 1637, Ninigret’s arrival in Boston with seventeen men.

William Hilton to John Winthrop1
Hilton, William Wintrhop, John

1637-07-14

To the Right worshipfull John Winthrop esqire Gouernor of the Masachsets giue these
Pascataque, July the 14th 1637 Ser,

My humble duty remembred the bearer hereof beeing Sonne to Passaconoway2 is in debted vnto mr. Vane, three skines which hee desighreth to pay but hee is affread to come to pay them by reason that the Sagamofre of Aguawam serteffieth him that if hee come in to the bay you will take awey his head hee hath desighred mee to write in his beehalffe that hee may come and pay his debts and likewise that you would bee pleased to bid him welcome and soe desighring the lord to blese you and yours I humbly rest Your worships to command to his poure

William Hilton

Ser this beearer desighreth mee to serteyffie in his behalffe that the Eanglish haue awais bin verry welcome vnto him I am able to testeffie that hee hath euer since I knew him bin a verry loving Indean.

1.

W. 1. 119; 2 Proceedings , X. 362.

2.

Possibly this was Wonnalansit, who was the eldest son of Passaconaway, the great sachem of the Merrimac River region.

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